Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

 

As I write this column, I am feeling a little nostalgic when I gaze out the window and see a light layer of snow covering the ground. There is a promise of more snow to come, but even as much as I like a white Christmas, the dusting that we have now will suffice. There is just enough of that fluffy stuff to show the little critter tracks in the snow. It is the one time of year that we can “track” where the squirrels, rabbits, birds and what looks like the neighbor’s cat have visited. As long as I can see no mouse prints leading into my house I am happy.

It is comforting to me when I am able to watch the birds at my feeder while rabbits and squirrels are busily running back and forth across the yards of the neighborhood. There are some nights while returning home after dark that a rabbit will suddenly dart from under the neighbor’s shrub alongside my driveway and scurry down the driveway to the back yard. A thought occurred to me on one of those evenings, it almost seemed as if that rabbit was waiting for me to come home. I know that it is not possible, but the kid in me might be thinking that maybe I do have a “watch rabbit” looking out for me.

There is something about winter that definitely brings out the kid in me, and not only just at Christmas time. Winter gives me that comfortable feeling, whether I am out shoveling snow or just pausing to look up at the stars on a crisp, clear winter’s night. If I am sitting in my warm house on a snowy evening with the wind blowing outside, I can close my eyes and think back to my days as a youth. There were many nights when I would be curled up in my bed reading about some outdoors adventure. Jim Kjelgaard was by far my favorite author growing up. He wrote his books mostly from the animals point of view. His description of how animals would escape from dangerous predators, including man, or seek shelter in a wintery storm always kept me coming back for more. When I would read a chapter about an animal, like a dog, facing a blizzard and it came to the part where the animal finally found shelter by nestling under some low hanging pine branches, I would close the book for the night and turn out the light. Kjelgaard’s books were mostly written for the youth and teens and they taught this young wannabe outdoorsman an appreciation for all critters in the wild.

There have been more and more portable fishing houses appearing on the lake and as far as I know, nobody has driven a full sized vehicle out on the ice or had one fall through. I haven’t heard if there are fish being caught, but judging by the number of houses grouped together in one area I can only assume that they are catching something. Just be careful when venturing out. No ice is 100 percent safe.

Snowmobile trails still need more snow, cold temperatures

Early cold temperatures and several inches of snow in parts of the state have many snowmobile enthusiasts excited to take their first ride of the season, but most trails will need more snow before grooming can begin. Most of the state’s snowmobile trails are not yet ready for riding, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota’s snowmobile trails officially open Dec. 1 each year and several conditions must be met before trails are open, groomed and ready for travel:

The ground must be frozen. Where trails cross wetlands, 15 inches of ice is needed to support the weight of the trail groomers.

Adequate snow cover, about 12 inches, must be on the ground to allow for trail packing and grooming.

Trails must be cleared of fallen trees, signs put in place and gates opened. Snowmobile club volunteers and DNR staff are currently working on these tasks.

“While the cold air is helping the ground freeze, we still need more snow and thicker ice to access trail segments that cross wet areas for brush clearing and other maintenance,” said Grand Rapids area supervisor Guy Lunz. “Crews are out now removing brush from trails where they can, and the pace will pick up as continued cold freezes the low-lying areas.” Even after a chilly start to November, ice on most lakes is not safe for travel. The DNR recommends a minimum of 5-7 inches of new clear ice for snowmobiles.

When the trails open, the DNR urges riders to use caution. Early season trails may have trees or debris across them, unfrozen swamps and flowages, rocks or ruts, or standing crops and closed gates. Also, road ditches can have obstacles such as culverts, signposts and rocks.

State trail conditions are posted each Thursday on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/snow_depth/index.html.

Links to snowmobile trail information, state trail maps, regulations, safety training, and more is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/snowmobiling.

 

Boat hosts needed for the Governor’s Fishing Opener

Until next time, I would like to encourage anyone who is a registered boat owner and would like to participate in the Governor’s Fishing Opener by being a boat host to sign up online. The easiest way to do that is by going to www.governorsopener.com look for the search box and type in boat host, click on search glass and it will take you to the page. Select boat host information and follow the instructions.

This is our chance to showcase this great community that we choose to live in and one that we are proud to call home.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the wonderful freedoms we enjoy today.